The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-10-31

schools and in the arrangement Of the stud
les Ot the public schools, and in the choice Of
the teachers for these schools" XLVIII.
Public schools open to all children for the
education Of the young should be under the
control Of the Romish church, and should
not be subject to the civil power or made 10
conform to the opinions Of the age"
The Vicar General Of Boston said In a pub
ne speech on March IL, 1879, "rhe attitude
OF tie Catholic church toward the public
schools IN this country, as far as we can de-
termlne from papal documents the DEGREES
Of the council Of Baltimore, ana the pastO-
rails OF several. bishops Is one Of nOn-apprOv-
al Of the system itself, Of censure OF the
manner of conducting them that prevails in
most places, and Of solemn admOntiOns to
pastors and parents to guard against the
dangers to faith and morals arising.from fire.
quenting them"
The hostility Of Romanism toward the
public school system of this country Is plain
ly stated by the Cincinnati Catholic Tele-
graph as follows: "It will be a glorious day
fer the Catholics Of this country, when un-
der the blows Of justice and morality, our
school systemsshall be shiyered TO pieces"
DO not forget that in tho dark ages it was
the church Of Rome which prevented the
lamp Of learning from going out utterly, or
that the Jesults, at later period, were the
most famous teachers in Europe But Rome
has never favored the education OF the
masses. In her relations TO them she has
aaunolcu W het own pIOFtID, Ignorance 10
tue mother OF DEVOTION In Protestant
countries like Germany and the United
States, where there Is a strong sentiment In
favor Of popular education she has been COM
PEELED in self defence, TO open schools Of her
own. But her real attitude toward the edu-
cation of the masses should be inferred from
her course in those countries where she has
or has had undisputed sway. Instance, her
own Italy where seyenty-three per cent. OF
her population are illiterate, or Spain where
"a hrnh a in NNFN
ninety-three per cent. belong to this class
Again the Constitution Of the United
States demands obedience TO Its laws and
loyalty to the government, but the Pope de-
clares that "the Romish church has a right
to exercise its authority without any limits
and Hon. r. W. Thompson, late secretary
OF the United States Navy, after carefully
weighing the utteranees Of the Pope and
American Romish bishops ON this subject
wrote HE who accepts papal infallibility,
and with it the utramOntaine Interpretation
Of the power of the Pope over the world,
and thinks that by offending the Pope he Of
tends God, Will obey passiVely, unresisting-
ly,. uninquiringly. Such a man. whether
priest or layman, high or low, is necessarily
lnlmlcal to the government and Institutions
OF the United States Government; his oath
Of allegiance is worth no more than the pa
per upon which il Is written"
The methods employed by the ROmanists
to accomplish their ends were discussed as
secret organization, prevarication in dealing
with Protestant measures and men made
lawful by the Catholic theologian Liquori,
and the multiplication of parOchial schools
TO prevent the AmericaniZatiOn of the chill
dren OF Romanists. The BrownsOn Review
says:
What is wanted by their founders is not sim
ply the preservation Of Orthodoxy, but the per
petuatlon OF the foreignism hitherto associated
with Orthodoxy would be hardly less offensive or
more acceptable than the public schools them
selves.
Threats, intimidation and the ballot-box,
with instances showing the authority Of the
Pope and priests in determining the manner
IN which Romanlsts must vote, were Illus
trated as part OF the plans Of Romanism to
obtain supremacy in this country.
The CxaggeratiOn Of Father Hecker'
figures were shown and the ROmsh pOpula-
ton in 1885 placed at about 81 millions, and
the Pr0testants at about 41A millions, with a
steady Increase Of Protestants in foreign
immigration, and multltudes of the children
OF R0manists staunch defenders Of civil and
religious liberty. Par0ehial schools contend
not only with public schools, but with the in
tiuence OF free press, the power Of social
influence and the trend Of civilization.
Protestant churches are as influential as
Romanist with the body polite. iiliteracy
always pales In the presence of knowledge,
and superstition Is banished by reason.
Thirteen Irishmen immigrate TO the cities
with oae German, but the West is yet to hold
the balance Of power in this nation, and
every lrlshman goes there with three Ger
mans. These Germans become largely loyal
Americans.
A fearful struggle for the supremacy of
this country at the ballot box seems inevi-
table. In 1t Professionalism will prevail, since
the days Of civil and religious tyranny are
doomed. Yet the eternal vigilance, the
price Of liberty, must be paid.
The character, aims and methods oil
Romanism must be made known to all oul
citizens. Every Christian must be on the
alert; Gods help, guidance and aid b,
sought; then our civil and religious liberties
| God given, will be preserved. The fina
issue IS assured through personal obedience
| to Him.
For right Is right, since God is God,
.. And right the day must win.